Patent GB-389103-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to machines operated by perforated cards
Filed: 1931-07-01
Abstract: 389,103. Statistical apparatus. SENKEL, R. and DUEBALL, E., 8, Werftstrasse, Berlin. July 1, 1931, No. 19035. Convention date, July 1, 1930. [Class 106 (i).] Verifying cards.-In an accounting-machine for printing on to account cards, Fig. 20, perforated with an identifying perforation, the data received from other perforated cards, e.g. Hollerith cards, the account cards are numbered consecutively and are examined to determine whether their sequence is correct, by examining means which is advanced step by step each time a correct account card is read. The machine is stopped if the sequence is wrong. Journalled in the machine frame a is a shaft b, Figs. 1 and 4, which is continuously oscillated by linkage bll, b<1>, 30 from a cam shaft c and which carries a pair of arms d with a pin d<11> which presses against an arm e which is loose on shaft h and carries a pawl g for driving a ratchet h<1>, of ten teeth, rigid with shaft h. A spring f pulls arm e against pin dll ; pawl g is pivoted on arm e and a spring f<1> is attached to the pawl and to an arm rigid with arm e, Fig. 7. As shaft b is oscillated counterclockwise, arm e follows pin d<11> and the pawl takes behind the next ratchet tooth. The shaft h also carries sets of cams i, each set consisting of ten cams and constituting a denomination. The first set, units, is rigid with ratchet h<1> but the succeeding sets are connected with their lower denominations by known tens-carrying mechanism. A wheel ill on each set of cams i, Fig. 2, meshes through a loosely mounted wheel o with a loosely mounted wheel p which latter is rigid with a hand-wheel p<11> bearing a numeral disc. When a lever t on shaft s<1> is swung clockwise, Fig. 1, the tens-carrying devices between the cam-sets are disconnected and a rod q<11>, Fig. 1, is removed from the cams so that the latter may be manually set to represent a particular account number. Lever t is connected to rod q<11> by linkage s<1>, s, t<11>, u, v<1>, v<11>, q<1>, q. Between the pair of arms d, Fig. 1, is a rod k<1> supporting members k adapted to be moved over pins l which read the account card, Fig. 20. In each set of cams i the cam points i<1> are staggered helically, the point of each cam successively moving its associated member k into position directly over its pin l. As there are five denominations of cams, there can only be five members k over pins l at any one time. Pins l slide e vertically in a fixed block a<11>. Above members k is an actuating bar m carried on arms m<1> pivoted at m<11>. This bar is pulled down by spring f<11> and carries a contact n coacting with a fixed contact n<1>. If all the pins l which have their members k set above them sense holes in the card which is stationary on the table a<1>, the bar w is able to follow the arm d downwards, pushing the pins through the card holes. Contact n thereby moves down and meets the fixed contact n<1>. This energizes a magnet which feeds the next card to the reading station. If a card with a wrong number occurs, one or more of the pins l is blocked by the card material and the contacts n, n<1> do not close, and the card feed fails, the cards being then inspected visually. The cards are fed from left to right, Fig. 2, by bands w. A cam x on shaft c oscillates a lever x<11>, x<3> (pivoted at x<1>), Fig. 1, whose pin x4 actuates an arm y which is loose on shaft y<1> and is pivoted to a pawl y<11> driving a ratchet z<11> loose on shaft y<1> and rigid with a set of cams z similar to the units set of cams i. The additional sets of cams..z correspond to the additional sets of cams i. Each set z has, however, a ratchet z<11> to itself. If a key 20 (there are five) is locked down the ratchet feed of cams z is permitted, but if a key 20 has been released upwardly, spring-actuated linkage 20<11>, 21, 22 rocks link 22 clockwise against the pin 22<11> on arm x<3> so that at the first oscillation of x<11>, x<3>, the pin 22<11> is locked up on top of arm 22 and oscillation of the ratchet drive is prevented. There are five such linkages (for the five denominations) actuated by the five keys 20, so that to permit a denomination of cams z to be used, the corresponding key 20 must be depressed to remove the blocking link 22. Each set of cams z is geared to a wheel 23<11> rigid with a knurled wheel 24<1> and a numeral disc 24<11> for reading and adjustment. Coacting with each cam z is a lever 25, 25<11> pivoted at 25<1> and having pivoted to it a slide 26 which has a pin-and-slot connection 2611, 261 with a lateral projection of the corresponding reading pin 1. Coacting with the tails d<1> of levers d are levers 27 carrying a bar 27<11> having a contact 28 which coacts with a fixed contact 28<1>. Sorting cards.-The device just described is used for selecting cards with a particular perforated number from the row of cards. This number is set up on the cams z but adjusting the one particular cam in each denominational set, by means of the knurled wheels 241 so that the corresponding levers 25<11> are moved to the right, Fig. 1, thereby placing their sliders 26 beneath the bar 27<11>. The sliders remain in this position and prevent contacts 28, 28<1> from closing so long as bar 27<11> cannot follow. If, however, a card with the desired number is read, the pins l move down througb card holes and pull the set sliders 26 down witb them; bar 27<11> follows and contacts 28, 28<1> close to initiate a printing or like operation, or to eject the card from the machine. Connected to arm 30, which is driven from cam shaft c, is a link 30<1> and an arm 31 with a clamping jaw 31<11> which holds each card stationary at the reading position on table a<1>. While reading of the account cards, Fig. 20, by pins l is taking place, sequence cards are read by six pins 35<1> actuated by bell cranks 35 pivoted loosely at 33<1>, Fig. 4. There is a seventh pin for reading a "full" hole which is punched in the card when it is full. The sequence holes are placed centrally of the card, e.g. for a main card and four supplementary cards with the same distinguishing number, there is a hole at the " 4 point in all five cards which will be read by the fourth pin 35<1> so that the cam disc blocks are controlled by coil 57, Fig. 7, to act for five cards. The pins 35<1> are resiliently raised by linkage from the cam shaft c. If a pin rises through a hole it moves its link 38<11> to the right to rock the corresponding lever 38 counterclockwise about pivot 37<1>. The levers 38 have hooks at their top ends of length according to the number of cycles to be controlled. The pivot rod 37<1> on arm 36 is lowered from cam shaft c after a hook 38 has been set and thereby the hook pulls down a bolt 41<1> on an arm 41 pivoted at 39 and carrying a pawl 41<11> which engages a notch 40<1> in a disc 40 fast on shaft 39. The disc 40 is held by pawls 42, 43. Further, an arm 44 rigid with shaft 39 moves a bar 44<1> to the left to close contacts 4411, 45<11> ; a magnet 57 thus energized locks the cams i against advancement until the requisite number, e.g. four, of machine cycles has elapsed for the series of sequence cards. The pawls 42, 43 are oscillated alternately from the cam shaft c so as to allow the disc 40 to return step by step as the cycles progress. As soon as pawl 41<11> and disc 40 moved down, the notch 40<1> registered with the surface of a cam 47, 47<1> held against a stop 39<11> so that the pawl 41<11> cannot again enter the notch and actuate the disc 40 until it has again returned to the normal position of Fig. 4 after the correct number of cycles. If a " full " hole is read by the seventh pin 351, the mechanism which actuates the pawls 42, 43 is disabled, so that the cams i retain the sequence number for a further card. The magnet 57, energized by closure of contacts 44<11>, 45<11>, moves a belt 58, Fig. 7, into the path of an arm ell connected to arm e so that pawl g cannot feed the cam discs i onwards. The sequence cards are fed by a suction device on to a conveyer band which moves the cards across table a<1>. The cards are finally deposited on a discharge table by a frame which receives each card and swings it bodily through 180. The suction device is only effective if contacts n, n<1> are closed by a correct account card, as above described. Perforated strip control. Instead of adjusting sliders 26 from cams z and keys 20 as above, the control may be automatically effected by perforated control cards or by the perforated strip of Fig. 16. The strip 83 passes from the right-hand roll 84<1>, Fig. 19, to a similar lefthand roll, over a bar 94<11> which has a hole for every possible strip hole or a continuous groove. The frame 84 carrying the members 841, 94<11> is oscillated about point 84<11> by cam 86 so that the strip is swung up to reading pins 92. All pins 92 which do not read a hole are swung anticlockwise about pivot 88 to open their contacts 92<11>, 93, but for the pin which reads a hole, its contacts energize the corresponding magnet 82, Fig. 14 ; the attracted armature 81<1> of the latter moving the slide 26 to the right through linkage 81, 80<1>, 80, 25<11>.